Latch or catch device



Jan. 7, l930. A. M. MARTIN LATCH OR CATCH DEVICE Filed Aug. 13. 1928 Patented Jan. 7, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALFRED M. MARTIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES MC- LAUGHLIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS LATCH OR CATCH DEVICE Application filed August 13, 1928. Serial No. 299,241,

These improvements relate to latch or cat-ch devices for holding readily releasably in a given relative position two members mounted to move toward and away from each other in a fixed path of travel. This path may be arcuate, as in the case ofa swinging door or the like, or it may be straight, according to a particular application.

The chief objects are to provide a latch or 0 catch device which is simple and cheap in construction, strong and durable and which will hold the parts strongly and reliably, yet readily releasable. Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings Figures 1, 2, and 3 show the several members and Catch elements in the same relative positions with respect to each other, Fig. 1 being a top view, Fig. 2 being a side view and Fig. 3 being an end view; and Fig. 4 is an end view with the parts in other relative positions.

In the drawings I have shown the latch or catch device as applied to certain parts of a loose-leaf binder in which the relatively long and flat plate-like member 10 and its integral extension 11 constitute part of what is known as the boxing of one of the back members. The dotted lines 8 in Fig. 4 aid'this understanding. The dotted line 9 of Fig. 4 indicates the lid or cover.

The relatively long plate-like member 12 having a turned over foot part 18 is a swinging support constituting one of my inventions in binders. The members 10 and 12 are hinged together at 14 whereby the member 12 may swing close to and face to face with th member 10.

The construction of a binder having these members 10 and 12 is shown in my copending 4 application, Ser. 172,980, filed March 5, 1927,

on binders, which also discloses certain latch or catch means for holding the members releasably together. The present latch or catch device is not limited to such binders, but is one of general application.

or lid.

ber 10, each bracket havingan outer part 16 shown as being turned at right angles from base 15, and having an inner part 17 turned back and overlying the part 17 in spaced apart relation. The inner wall 16 has a hole 18 theretbrough of a size to accommodate loosely the springv steel rod 19, whichis preferably cylindrical. The ends ofthe rod 19 extend through the holes 18 respectively and the outer bracket parts 16 limit or prevent longitudinal movement of the rod. these parts two ofthebrackets are slipped upon the rod as shown in Fig. 1 and then the brackets are spot-welded .in place. The rod may not therefore move out of its established relative position. I

On the swinging member 12 I provide a catch element 20 formed of a strip of sheet steel and spot-,velded at its base parts 21 and 22 to the member 12. It has a forward slanting surface 28 terminating in a ridge 24 and posterior to the slanting'surface 23 and ridge 24 is another slanting surface 25. Thesesurfaces 23 and 25 slant in opposite directions.

In the member 10 there is a rectangular hole 26 at a place midway between the ends of the rod 19 and this hole 26 is large enough to permit the projecting latch element 20 to pass freely through the member 10. The arrangement is such that the slanting surface 23 moving transversely to the longitudinal direction of the rod 19- comes into contact with a side surface of the rod. WVhen the part as 12 is then pushed upon the slanting surface 23 causes the rod 19 to flex, and continued pressure upon the part 12 forces the ridge 24 of the latch element 20 beyond the vertical diametric lme through the bar 19 as viewed in Fig. 3 and thereupon the spring tension in the rod 19 causes the rod to fitsnugly against the slant- In assembling the rod 19 is shown as one-eighth of an inch. Attention is called to the notable strength of such a rod to resist flexing. The amount of such resistance may be varied within wide limits according to this invention, which is one of its notable advantages. It is evident that a rod of a given diameter may be longer or shorter, the longer one being more easily flexed. Itis merely a matter of varying the length of the rod to obtain a given holding effect, the other elements remaining the same. The diameter or other thickness of the rod may be varied also, but the present invention contemplates a strong and substantially thick bar.

The cylindrical shape of the bar is preferred for several reasons. Its cylindrical ends are in circular holes 118 acting as bearings, and the slanting surface 23 of the catch element engages a surface the shape of which is constant no matter how the bar may be turned on its axis.

WVhen the slanting surface 23 is sin transversely across the bar 19 the bar is axially turned a small amount, and it is similarly turned, but in reverse direction, when the catch 23 is drawn away. Such turning of the bar facilitates the interaction of the latch element 20 and the bar or holding element 19. Friction between the two interengaging elements 19 and 20 is largely avoided.

Another feature of importance is that the bar 19 and its supporting brackets occupy but a small amount of space in cross view. There are many situations where there is plenty of space in the longitudinal directions but very little otherwise.

I contemplate as being included in the present invention all such changes, departures and variations from what is thus specifically illustrated and described as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination of two devices arranged to move toward and away from each other in a fixed path of travel, a holding member mounted on one of said devices and comprising a springy bar of materially great length, with means holding said bar at materially-greatly spaced-apart portions thereof whereby the part thereof between said holding means may be flexed against its spring tension, and a catch member mounted on the other one of said devices and having a slanting surface arranged tomove transversely against a side of said bar between said holding means and to flex the bar while said slanting surface is passing said bar, said catch member having a slanting retaining shoulder posterior to said slanting surface and behind which said bar moves by its spring tension, whereby said two devices are held readily releasably in a given posit-ion relative to each other.

2. The combination of two devices arranged to move toward and away from each other in a fixed path of travel, a holding member mounted on one of said devices and comprising a substantially straight springy cylindrical bar of materially great length, with means holding said'bar at materially-greatly spaced-apart portions thereof whereby the part thereof between said holding means may be flexed against its spring tension and whereby the bar may turn axially, and a catch member mounted on the other one of said devices and having a slanting surface arranged to move transversely against a side of said bar between said holding means. and to flex and turn the bar while said slanting surface is passing said bar, said catch member having a slanting retaining shoulder posterior to said slanting surface and behind which said bar moves by its spring tension, whereby said two devices are held releasably in a. given position relative to each other.

3. The combination of two plate-like members hinged together along edge portions thereof and being movable toward and away from each other, a holding member mounted on the rear surface of one of said members and comprising a springy bar of materially great length, with a pair of brackets, one at each end of the bar, for holding the'bar whereby the part thereof between said brackets may be flexed against its spring tension, said plate-like member having a hole therethrough adjacent to the middle of said bar, and a catch element mounted on the other one of said devices and having a slanting surface arranged to move through said hole and transversely against a side of said bar and to flex the bar while said slanting surface is passing the bar, said catch element havinga slanting retaining shoulder posterior and close to said slanting surface and against which said bar moves by its spring tension after said slanting surface has passed the bar, whereby said two plate-like members are held readily releasably substantially face to face.

4. In latch construction, the combination of a base, a pair of brackets secured upon the base and facing each other in substantially widely spaced-apart relation, each bracket having an inner part having a hole theret-hrough and an outer part opposite the hole in the inner part, a spring bar in said holes, said outer parts being arranged to limit the longitudinal movement of thebar whereby itwill be retained in said holes.

ALFRED H. MARTIN. 

